The top-rated tax relief attorneie in Bakersfield, California is Law Offices of Robert H. Brumfield, P.C., rated 4.8 stars across 257 reviews. Other highly rated options include Law Office of Jorge Alesna, Jr., Tax Crisis Institute Bakersfield, Williams & Williams, Inc.. This directory lists 13 tax relief attorneies serving Bakersfield.
Comparison
| # | Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Law Offices of Robert H. Brumfield, P.C. | 1810 Westwind Dr #100 | (661) 384-6940 |
| 2 | Law Office of Jorge Alesna, Jr. | 930 Truxtun Ave Suite 107 | (661) 933-0043 |
| 3 | Tax Crisis Institute Bakersfield | 9711 Holland St #1 | (661) 837-1100 |
| 4 | Williams & Williams, Inc. | 2441 G St A | (661) 748-3948 |
| 5 | Bakersfield Tax Relief | 8700 Stockdale Hwy | (661) 491-7607 |
| 6 | Klein DeNatale Goldner | 10000 Stockdale Hwy Suite 200 | (661) 485-2100 |
| 7 | Tax Debt Relief Bakersfield | 1727 18th St | (661) 276-1912 |
| 8 | Phillip Gillet Jr Attorney At Law | 2225 E St STE 200 | (661) 323-3200 |
| 9 | Law Office of Susan J. Salehi | 1712 19th St #217 | (661) 631-0252 |
| 10 | Bakersfield Center for Tax Relief | 841 Mohawk St | (661) 459-3965 |
The Law Offices of Robert H. Brumfield, P.C. serves the Bakersfield, California metro area in the tax relief sector. The firm provides legal representation for individuals and businesses dealing with tax debt or disputes with taxing authorities. Common matters include IRS wage garnishments and bank levies. The practice handles penalty abatement requests and prepares offers in compromise to help clients resolve outstanding tax liabilities.
The Law Office of Jorge Alesna, Jr. provides tax relief services in Bakersfield, California, including IRS penalty abatement and offer in compromise negotiations. It offers ongoing case management to resolve outstanding tax liabilities and prevent future collection actions. The firm assists clients with wage garnishments and tax liens by communicating directly with taxing authorities. Its tax resolution services are available for single-family homes, apartments, retail locations, and restaurants.
Tax Crisis Institute Bakersfield serves homeowners and business owners who face tax liens, wage garnishments, or audits from the IRS and California Franchise Tax Board. Its tax relief attorneys negotiate offers in compromise, installment agreements, and penalty abatements to resolve tax debt. The firm also assists with unfiled returns and collection due process hearings. Customers from nearby communities such as Oildale or the broader Kern County area are also represented.
Serving Bakersfield and the surrounding Kern County communities, Williams & Williams, Inc. handles tax debt resolution, IRS representation, and state tax issues for individuals and local businesses. The firm works on negotiating offers in compromise and setting up installment agreements for clients facing liens or wage garnishments. It typically begins with a thorough review of each client’s tax records and financial situation before developing a strategy to address the outstanding liability with the taxing authorities.
As tax season in Kern County brings renewed scrutiny from the Internal Revenue Service, many Bakersfield residents seek professional help with outstanding balances or unfiled returns. Bakersfield Tax Relief in Bakersfield, CA assists local taxpayers facing wage garnishments, liens, or IRS notices. The firm handles penalty abatement requests, installment agreements, and offers in compromise to reduce tax debt. An initial assessment of a client’s financial situation and IRS correspondence is required to determine the most appropriate resolution path forward.
Klein DeNatale Goldner helps clients in Bakersfield, California, resolve tax debts through either one-time settlements or ongoing installment payment arrangements, covering federal and state tax liabilities. For those facing a tax lien or a levy, the firm can negotiate an offer in compromise to reduce the total amount owed. For individuals with less urgent tax problems, the firm also provides advice on compliance and filing back returns. All services are provided on a one-time or as-needed basis.
Tax Debt Relief Bakersfield focuses on helping individuals and businesses resolve tax disputes with government agencies. This Bakersfield office specializes in negotiating settlements for back taxes, wage garnishments, and unfiled returns. Its attorneys handle offers in compromise, installment agreements, and lien removals to manage clients’ outstanding liabilities. The firm is available to assist commercial property owners, office tenants, warehouse operators, and food service establishments throughout the local area.
Phillip Gillet Jr Attorney At Law provides specialized tax relief services for individuals and businesses in Bakersfield, California. Its practice addresses IRS tax debts, offers in collections, and unresolved tax liabilities through negotiation and resolution strategies. This attorney works directly with clients to handle complex tax issues and represent them before taxing authorities. As tax season approaches, many clients seek help resolving notices of deficiency or unfiled returns that have accumulated penalties and interest over time.
The Law Office of Susan J. Salehi serves residential clients in Bakersfield with tax relief solutions, addressing issues such as IRS back taxes, wage garnishments, and levy disputes. Commercial tax representation is also available for local businesses facing audit defense or payroll tax problems. The firm assists clients throughout Bakersfield and Kern County. After resolving an initial tax matter, the office provides follow-up consultations to help prevent future issues between regular visits.
Bakersfield Center for Tax Relief is known for representing clients who face disputes with the Internal Revenue Service. Its service range includes reducing tax debt through offers in compromise, negotiating installment agreements, and handling wage garnishments or bank levies. The firm explains the legal process for stopping tax liens and pursuing penalty abatement effectively. For those with unfiled tax returns, an additional specialty service it provides is assisting with delinquent return preparation to achieve full compliance.
What Does a a Tax Relief Attorney in Bakersfield Cost?
Typical costs for hiring a tax relief attorney in California range from $3,000 to $10,000 or more for flat fee arrangements, depending on the complexity of the case and the number of tax years involved. Simple installment agreements may cost between $2,500 and $5,000, while offers in compromise often range from $5,000 to $12,000. Some attorneys charge hourly rates of $300 to $600 per hour, and clients should expect to pay a retainer upfront before work begins. Many firms offer payment plans for their legal fees, but these are separate from any payment arrangements made with the IRS or California Franchise Tax Board.
This information is provided for general educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Tax laws change frequently, and individual circumstances vary significantly. You should consult with a qualified tax professional for advice specific to your situation.
About tax relief attorneies in Bakersfield
Tax relief attorneys in Bakersfield, California help individuals and businesses resolve serious tax debts with both the Internal Revenue Service and the California Franchise Tax Board. These legal professionals handle a wide range of tax problems including back taxes owed from prior years, IRS audits that uncover discrepancies, tax liens filed against property, tax levies that freeze bank accounts or seize assets, and wage garnishment that takes a portion of each paycheck. Common resolution methods include offers in compromise that allow taxpayers to settle debts for less than the full amount owed, installment agreements that break large balances into manageable monthly payments, and penalty abatement requests that remove or reduce failure-to-pay and failure-to-file penalties. Each case involves unique facts, and the attorney must analyze the clients financial situation, the amount of tax owed, and the specific collection actions being taken by the government.
Federal tax issues often begin with a series of IRS notices that escalate in severity. The IRS sends an initial notice of balance due, followed by a notice of intent to levy, and finally a notice of federal tax lien filing. Once a tax lien is filed, it becomes public record and can damage credit scores and make it difficult to sell property or obtain financing. The IRS generally has ten years from the date of assessment to collect the tax, after which the statute of limitations on collections expires and the debt becomes uncollectible. However, certain actions such as filing for bankruptcy or entering into an installment agreement can extend this period. Innocent spouse relief is available for taxpayers who filed joint returns but should not be held responsible for the tax debt due to the other spouses errors or omissions. Currently not collectible status is another option for taxpayers who cannot pay any amount toward their tax debt without causing economic hardship, though interest and penalties continue to accrue during this period.
State tax issues in California involve the Franchise Tax Board, which has its own enforcement powers separate from the IRS. The FTB can file state tax liens, levy bank accounts, and garnish wages without a court order. California imposes its own set of penalties, including a 5 percent penalty for failure to file a return on time and an additional 0.5 percent penalty for each month the return is late, up to 25 percent of the tax due. The state also has an offer in compromise program similar to the federal program, but with different eligibility criteria and application procedures. California tax liens remain on record for ten years and can be renewed, making it critical to address state tax debts promptly. The FTB also has the authority to suspend drivers licenses and professional licenses for taxpayers who owe significant amounts and have not made payment arrangements.
Resolution options for Bakersfield taxpayers include several formal programs. An offer in compromise allows a taxpayer to settle a tax debt for less than the full amount if they can demonstrate that paying the full amount would cause economic hardship or that the debt is not legally owed. The IRS generally requires a lump sum payment of 20 percent of the offer amount with the application, though a periodic payment option is also available. Installment agreements allow taxpayers to pay their debt over time, with the IRS requiring full payment of the balance within 72 months for streamlined agreements under $50,000. Penalty abatement requests can be granted for first-time penalty abatement if the taxpayer has a clean compliance history for the prior three years, or for reasonable cause such as serious illness, natural disaster, or reliance on incorrect advice from a tax professional. Bankruptcy can discharge some tax debts if certain conditions are met, including that the tax return was due at least three years before filing, the return was filed at least two years before filing, and the tax was assessed at least 240 days before filing.
When hiring a tax relief attorney in Bakersfield, clients should expect to pay flat fees ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 or more depending on the complexity of the case. Some attorneys charge hourly rates between $300 and $600 per hour, though flat fee arrangements are more common for standard resolution cases. Clients should be wary of tax relief scams that promise to settle debts for pennies on the dollar or guarantee results before reviewing the clients financial information. Legitimate attorneys will conduct a thorough analysis of the clients tax returns, financial statements, and collection notices before recommending a course of action. Enrolled agents are federally licensed tax practitioners who can represent clients before the IRS, while certified public accountants have expertise in tax preparation and planning. Attorneys have the additional advantage of attorney-client privilege and can represent clients in tax court if litigation becomes necessary. Each type of professional has different qualifications, and the choice depends on the specific legal and financial issues involved.
A taxpayer should consider hiring a tax relief attorney when they receive an IRS notice demanding payment, especially if the notice indicates that a revenue officer has been assigned to the case. Immediate legal assistance is also warranted when a bank account has been levied, wages have been garnished, or a notice of federal tax lien has been filed. Audit notification letters from the IRS or FTB should prompt a consultation, as should situations involving unfiled tax returns for multiple years. Taxpayers who owe more than $10,000 and cannot pay the full amount within 120 days should seek professional advice to explore installment agreements or offers in compromise. The earlier a taxpayer engages an attorney, the more options are available, and the less likely aggressive collection actions such as levies and seizures will occur.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific California state tax laws affect tax relief options for Bakersfield residents?
California has its own offer in compromise program under Revenue and Taxation Code Section 19443, which requires taxpayers to demonstrate that the debt cannot be collected in full or that collection would create economic hardship. The California Franchise Tax Board also has the authority to suspend drivers licenses under Revenue and Taxation Code Section 19269 for debts exceeding $10,000 that are not in a payment plan. Additionally, California imposes a 10-year statute of limitations on state tax collections, but the FTB can renew liens before expiration.
How much does it typically cost to hire a tax relief attorney in Bakersfield, California?
Flat fees for tax relief cases in Bakersfield generally range from $3,000 for simple installment agreements to $10,000 or more for complex offers in compromise or cases involving multiple years of unfiled returns. Some attorneys charge hourly rates between $300 and $600 per hour, with total costs depending on the time required for negotiation and documentation. Many firms offer payment plans for their fees, but clients should obtain a written fee agreement before any work begins.
What is the typical legal process for resolving tax debt with an attorney in California?
The process usually begins with a comprehensive financial analysis where the attorney reviews the clients income, expenses, assets, and liabilities to determine eligibility for resolution programs. The attorney then files a power of attorney with the IRS and California Franchise Tax Board, requests a collection hold to stop enforcement actions, and submits the appropriate application such as an offer in compromise or installment agreement. The entire process from initial consultation to final resolution typically takes 6 to 12 months, though offers in compromise can take 12 to 18 months for full processing.
Tax Relief Attorneies in Other California Cities
Antioch · Apple Valley · Arcadia · Atascadero · Baldwin Park · Banning · Beaumont · Bellflower · Benicia · Berkeley · Beverly Hills · Brea · Brentwood · Burbank · Burlingame